The nurse would anticipate which laboratory result drawn 10 hours after a patient experienced a major burn injury?
1. Potassium level of 3.0 mEq/L
2. Platelets 450,000 uL
3. Hematocrit of 48%
4. Sodium 138 mEq/L
3
Rationale 1: Cell damage resulting from the burn injury causes the release of intracellular potassium, which causes hyperkalemia. Therefore, the potassium level is increased, not decreased, in the first 24 hours.
Rationale 2: Large numbers of platelets are used to stabilize the vasculature in and around the burned area. Platelet counts typically drop.
Rationale 3: Hematocrit increases in the first 12 to 48 hours after a burn injury due to hemoconcentration from intravascular fluid volume loss.
Rationale 4: An increased serum sodium level is expected due to dehydration and fluid shifts.
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